These data cubes (Excel spreadsheets) contain regional experimental estimates (at the Statistical Local
Area (SLA) level) of the sources and total amount of personal income people receive. The estimates have been compiled using a combination of aggregated individual income tax data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and aggregated income support customer data from the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS). The compilation of these data are part of the ABS' program to increase the availability of regional statistics, particularly through the use of administrative data collected by other government agencies. The ABS wishes to acknowledge the invaluable support both the ATO and FaCS have provided in compiling these statistics.

The first set of tables, containing data for the years 1995-96 to 2000-01, provide a breakdown of total personal income by the following sources - wage & salary, own unincorporated business, investment, superannuation and annuity, government cash benefit, and other income.

The second set of tables, containing data for the years 1995-96 to 2001-02, provide a further breakdown of government cash benefits by five main payment types - age pension, disability support pension, newstart allowance, parenting payment and youth allowance.

As the economic wellbeing of most individuals in Australia is largely determined by the amount of income they receive, these data provide valuable information about relative advantage and disadvantage in regions and indicate the level of financial resources available for the population in a region. The source of the income, such as from government cash benefits, also provides information about the contribution of such payments to total income in regions.

Background information regarding these estimates can be referenced in Information Paper: Experimental Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas, Taxation and Income Support Data, 1995-96 to 2000-01 (cat. no. 6524.0).

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